Rudolph Ramblings

Advent Card Free Printables

2012-02-14T02:02:00.000-08:00

Cute little Advent tags! They are FREE printables over at AllChristmascrafts.com

These would work super cute if you do the twenty four little gifts...use one for a tag on each gift. You could also print them and use magnets to hang them of the refridgerator door or make a cookie sheet advent calendar! i love the simple tree design.

Christmas Art Journal Day 11

2012-02-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

I used some music scrap paper and part of a church bulletin for page 11. I used red sharpie to add my own version of Christ the King! I also glued on some words from a favorite song. Mary Did You Know. It's a simple page but my the 11th things were started to get hectic. I still liked using "real life" materials like the bulletin from church!

Little Candy Pails

2012-02-07T02:12:00.000-08:00

Check out these little candy pails from Target dollar spot. I filled them with M and Ms.....added ribbons and tags. Cute inexpensive gifts! I also found some teeny tiny ones at Michael's

Christmas Art Journal Day 10

2012-02-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

Here's Day 10 of the Christmas Art Journal 2011. I printed a picture to use as the back of page 9. The Breakfast with Santa card is from Evan's school and we went to this event on December 10th!

Here's the page with the card turned. I journal on the back of the card and added a photo of Evan from the morning...with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Added the Here Comes Santa embellishment and ta da....it's done!

I love the pages where we have an event or an activity to focus on! What a great way to hold onto the memories!

Ribbon Trees

2012-02-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

I came across this idea over at A Holiday Haven and thought it looked simple yet stylish and adorable! You use a styrofoam cones, aluminum foil, ribbon and school glue to create these little cuties. Couldn't they look pretty on a table or mantel in different colors? Head on over the Holiday Haven for the full set of directions!

Since February is Crafty Kits Month....you might want to add this idea to your list and get a kit assembled for creating these.

January Rudolph Day 2012

2012-01-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

It's the first Rudolph Day of the year!! I'm going to share some inspiration with you!

I have this cute little box pinned over at Pinterest and I wanted to link to the original source but for some reason the link over there just goes to the picture not the source. Its says meredith.com but when I try going there...I can't find it. I wanted to share it with you here though because I think it is adorable...and a different way to organize for Christmas rather than a notebook!

Next we have a printable subway art card from Christmas Your Way. I think it would be cute framed also!

Isn't this GREAT....find it and some other examples over at Mamie Jane's. I'm going to be on the look out for old Scrabble games at the flea market and resale shops! Oh, and yardstcks too!

This is on my craft list for 2012. I love the vintage look and these are sweet! You can find these and other vintage ideas over at Flea Market Style.

That's it for January....I hope you enjoy the ideas I picked to share with you!

Christmas Art Journal: Day Nine

2012-01-22T05:24:00.000-08:00

This is Day Nine and the Day of Evan's preschool program. The page on the left is the front of the bulletin from the program and the page on the left is scrapbook paper and the post card that we received about the program. I added a little mini insert...a page out of a calendar that I received inside a crd for Christmas 2012....I tore loose all the calendars except the one for Decemeber 2011 and then cirlced the program date on the little calendar. I unhooked part of it to the take the picture so I could move it aside and you could see the page beneath it.

Here's the back of the calendar insert...I typed up the songs he sang etc. You think you are always going to remember those things,....but honestly you don't! Or you don't remember whcih year was which! Then I added a pciture of him from that night taken by the tree!

This is the part of the art journal where things got a little dicey...things were BUSY by December 9th. Sometimes I just created the page and left a space for the picture or the journaling and then completed that later. I think for 2012 I will create the base pages first and then during December I'll just need to add the theme, journaling etc. This year the color scheme was all over the place and sort of chunky and messy...I used what I had, took some risks trying different things etc. It was nice! If I do base pages I will most likely pick a color or style theme. I am considering doing Victorian because I love that art etc....might be harder to get things like the Christmas programs and stuff with Evan to fit "into" the theme but we will see. The base pages are something I am considering for my Christmas in July project.

Christmas Art Journal-Day 8

2012-01-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

On Day 8 I used a cut out from an ad and then glued Evan's Santa wish list to it...The Joy of Christmas is a card insert and on the back I journaled things that bring me Joy!!!

In this picture you can see the back of the card insert with the journaling and also the opposite page which is the rest of Day 8. I just cut out some sayings and glued them on.

Hint for some cheap materials....the quotation is cut out of a cheapy book that I picked up at a Dollar tree store....so for one buck I had a little book I could cut up and use in the art journal. Saved me a little time in typing and printing. I actually bought two different ones so I have pages left over I can use for Christmas 2012 too.

Christmas Art Journal- Day 7

2012-01-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

Day Seven became a Santa page. Evan saw so many Santas this year he was probably like "what the heck!". This is the Santa picture from Bass Pro...the start of our day that ended with the light display in O'Fallon. We crammed a lot into one day...Bass Pro which had crafts and things plus Santa, Historic St Charles with Santas from around the world and then the lights.

I used scrapbook paper, some embellishments, printed words from computer, and a picture...I like this page,,,,it says: CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Art Journal-Day Six

2012-01-10T04:17:00.000-08:00

Day Six I focused on the church theme for Advent. This shows the pages with a little insert (the striped and tagged page) On the back of the insert I typed up the four elements of the Advent Conspiracy. The left page is a Christmas card front and some scrapbook music paper featuring a Christmas hymn.

This is the right page behind the insert...I used the front of the church bulletin, a small cut out from a flyer from church about the Advent Conspiracy and some black letters. I don't know why but I really like page six. Maybe because it focuses on a real event from this year. There are future pages that do also and they too are some of my faves. I like the other more generic pages too but having a daily focus makes the page come together so much easier! It's just hard during the busy days to find a "focus."

Christmas Art Journal Day Five

2012-01-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

This is Day Five plus a card insert. The back of Day Four is the front of a card glues to the divider card. The Merry Christmas card is an insert and has journaling on the back where I write about Christmas memories..

This shows the page with the card turned. The Merry page was created with a hodge podge of materials I had. My goal was to create this art journal using my stash. I think I bought two 97 cent packs of chipboard accents at Walmart and that's it!!

On the Merry page I used scrapbook paper, Ho Ho Ho packaging tape, foam letters, a quotation I printed and a snippet from an old card that says Merry Christmas. You can also see I used a Merry form word on the opposite page tab!! I guess you could call this my Merry page...:)

Christmas Art Journal Day 4

2011-12-31T05:07:00.000-08:00

I have several shots of Day Four because I added some little details like a card insert and also a little mini page protector insert.

This is the first picture. The back of the day three page is a card front plus I added some three dimensional snowflakes. I also added the foam tag Santa. The Joy is also a card front which I thought was pretty. As you can see right now I still have the album bound with twine. I started out using those binder rings and they worked great...except as the album got chunkier they kept coming loose and it was difficult to turn pages. The next time I am at Michael's I am going to see if they have larger rings.

This second picture shows the back of the JOY card. I covered it with red and white polka dotted paper and some lace paper. I also cut out the Saint Charles insert from a paper we had describing the event. Inside the little Santa gift tag I glued a little paragraph I journaled/typed up about our day. On the opposite page you see a little two card plastic insert. It is holding two of the cards we collected from the Santas that day. They had Santa's from around the world and other characters like the reindeer instructor. Each one handed out cards.

This third picture shows the last part of page four. I used the red and white paper again and a small piece of a card and a glitter three dimensional holly leaf. Then I glued a card from the event that shows the Frontier Santa and an actual picture of Evan with the Frontier Santa that we took that day. You can see the backs of the cards that are in the insert. They decribe a little about whichever character is pictured on the card and they are also number. There are 33 cards to collect. We got a lot of cards but not all 33. This is one of my favorite pages because it was such a fun Christmas outing and I like all the elements I had to add to this day!

Christmas Art Journal Day Three

2011-12-29T05:38:00.000-08:00

This is shot one of Day Three. The page on the left is created with an old Christmas card front, some sticking lace trim and a little foam sticker that says Merry. the insert is another Christmas card front that is really pretty. The picture doesn't really show it but the snowflakes are foil like and are three dimensional.

This is the second shot...it shows the back of the card to which I attached a printed Victorian Santa picture. The other page highlights the silent auction item I made for our school Christmas party and fundraiser. We raise money for the local Adopt a Family Christmas. I used scrapbook paper, the cards I had printed for my basket and then added the silver star garland...it is also what I tied the basket up with! :) I like this page more for the memories it evokes than for the actually "artsyness" of it.

With that being said, I had the most difficult time with days where I did not have a certain theme or event to work with. The whole idea of December Daily is to find an event or theme or idea from the day to work with. I didn't really follow the December Daily blog/ideas list etc for a reason. When I tried Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas a few years back I got totally overwhelmed with the GREATNESS everyone else was creating and I was either behind, short on creativity, or short on supplies...so this year I wanted to do it totally on my own using materials i had on hand. I still received the Journal Your Christmas prompts in my mailbox everday too because once you take the class you get the stuff every year which is awesome. I think I opened one to take a look. the rest are unopened. There are some cool printables etc so I am going to look at and print etc ones I want during Christmas in July....I will open an email each day and look at materials etc!

In 2012 I will most likely check the December Daily for inspiration but still do what ever strikes me. Who knows I might even open those Journal Your Christmas emails for even more creative inspiration. That's it for today. I discovered some other great things during the art journal process which I'll share with you as the "day" comes up where the thought actually hit me...lol.

Christmas Art Journal Day Two

2011-12-28T04:26:00.000-08:00

So the front cover that I posted yesterday was actually Day One. The next time I do the Christmas Art Journal I will make a cover and then start Day One of the first page. So that is the first thing I learned from the process. It's NOT a must but something different I want to do next time. I was somewhat limited because I used the index card dividers and there were exactly 25 of those. Another thing is I have a love-hate relationship with the little index tabs that stick out. I know a lot of Christmas journals I saw pictures of, have them, but some times they are hard to work with, blending them in some meaningful way into the art.

This is page two...it is one of those pages that evolved over time. The Dicken's quotation is on the back of the cover page. I originally wanted to just use pretty papers on the backs but then they looked so "empty" that I just couldn't leave them be. The other page I consider a "cheat" because it is really the front of an old Christmas card...but I loved it...so I used it. In the future pages you will see more cards but most of them I used as inserts rather than as the page itself.

Another thing I tried to "let go of" was the idea that the two pages had to "coordinate". See here the quotations page does not at all "match" the other page. This is another thing I have a love-hate relationship with. I tend to want "matching looks" but then it appears more "scrapbooky" and less art journally. I find that the binding allows me to look at each page by itself so its less important. I also strived to use only materials I already had in my stash so that meant things did not always "match".

So I picked the card front because I loved it and the quotation because I loved it....how can one go wrong with things loved??

The Christmas Art Journal Project Day One

2011-12-27T20:46:00.000-08:00

So I did it.....I completed the Christmas Art Journal 2011....it was a bit of a challenge....some pages I love...and some are just ho hum. A few days I had to really work at figuring out what in the world to focus on. December is always a little crazy....so I started writing about the art journal December 1st and 2nd and then stopped blogging....I had to choose to work on the journal or blog...couldn't manage both!! I did post some pictures on Facebook along the way. Often I'd find myself adding "one more thing" to a page so that sometimes the page transformed AFTER I took a picture. Since that is the case I thought it might be fun to blog about the pages during the dreary month of January...here at Rudolph Ramblings, Each post will show a picture or two of the journal pages. Something I hadn't taken into consideration was the 'backs" of the pages...I wanted to keep it simple and tried just focusing on the page but then the blank backs just didn't seem to work for me...so I ended up doing them also. In addition, I added inserts throughout....making this a chunky little book. I'm still not sure about the binding. I started out using rings but the book seems to have outgrown those so I used twine.

So the picture above is the chunky little book....I painted it using scrapbook paint and then added some details. I'm not completely satisfied with the cover but it is...what it is! I hope you'll join me here at Rudolph Ramblings....as we travel through the art journal and the process I went through in creating it.

Also over at Ginger's Journey....I'm going to participate in a 2012 creative challenge called Index Card a Day....this has been around for awhile but I'm always a day late and a dollar short....so I'm just getting into it starting January 1, 2012.

December 2nd Art Journal

2011-12-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

Here it is....Day 2! I feel like I need more "writing" so maybe Day 3 will include lots...I found a stash of the fronts of old cards from last year....so they are going to be a great resource for the art journal!

Christmas Art Journal

2011-12-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

So today I found this package of index card dividers....they were the 5 x 8 size and I thought hmmm....maybe I could play around with these and create a Christmas Art Journal....they aren't as stiff as chipboard but they are cheap and easy to punch holes in for the rings or perhaps I'll use ribbon. December's a busy time but I am going to work on my art journal throughout December. It has 25 pages so perfect for one a day from here until Christmas...and if I miss a day I can do it the week after Christmas. My goal is 25 pages...I started out by painting the first page for today. It buckled up a little so I probably won't use any more paint although it was the scrap book paint so perhaps I can get it to flatten out. I'm waiting for it to dry. I'm going to use the little tabs to put a number 1-25 on them to chronical the month.

I'm not sure exactly what it will look like...it is an art journal afterall. :) I printed off a black and white Victorian picture that I like but I'm not sure if or which day I'll use it. I will keep you updated on page one!

Update: It does seem to be flattening out as it dries but I may have to put a heavy book on it. I also cut a piece of paper to put on the back of page one...I'll add more of course once the page is ready to be handled more...

Finished page shown below....I am just going to cover the backs of each one with either Christmas scrap paper or wrapping paper....and leave the pretty designs. I want to add more artsy stuff to future pages but time was limited tonight and I was determined to do page one....why get behind the very first day!

Elf Door

2011-11-29T17:30:00.000-08:00

So our elves have arrived in full force and this year they have their own little magic door.

I painted a simple piece of wood Christmas red...added a button door knob and a couple little scrapbook pieces for the hinges. The wreath is also a scrapbooking sticker put it's three dimensional not flat. Next I made a little sign to hang above the door that says Elves Only. I put it near the basebooard in the living room. I can't wait for Evan to come over tomorrow night and discover it! A whimsical magical little door.

My daughter (mother to Evan) pointed out that only the little elves can fit through it and not our two bigger ones but I told her that elves are magical so of course they can shrink down and fit right through! I'm going to leave a little gift by the door for Evan to discover also!

More elf fun later!!

Advent Calendar Idea

2011-11-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

Found this super cute advent calendar idea over at Makoodle.com

It is really neat and you can find the printable numbers and little inside activity ideas FREE there too. I know it's impossible for me to pull this off for this Christmas but it is going on my list for next year. Do I need ANOTHER advent calendar? No! But I love them and I love this idea.

It uses Wilton 2 inch favor tins, some card stock, modge podge and a couple other things depending on if you want to make it a magnetic board in a frame. I'm not sure of I would do that or ?? Here's another version from Twig and Thistle that suggests putting them in a tree shape on the fridge!

Something to put on the Rudolph Day list for 2012!!!

Rudolph Giveaway

2011-11-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

For the next four weeks I will be giving away one of the little Rudolph Notebooks that I found at Target. I know some people are having trouble finding them at their Target so here's your chance to try and snag one to use in 2012 for Rudolph Day lists etc.

To enter, go to the forums at Magical Holiday Home. There will be a new thread each week and you can enter by posting in the thread.

Here's the thread for this week: HERE

Pick Up Your Rudolph Day Book

2011-11-13T11:36:00.000-08:00

Pick up your Rudolph Day 2012 book at Target Dollar Spot before they are gone...This makes a great little book for keeping track of Rudolph Days....It has enough pages to devote one Each month to that month's list and leave several blank pages after each one for your notes about how the day went!

I have mine and I hope it makes my 2012 Rudolph Days even better than 2011!! You could of course always make one with a little notebook and stickers if you want!!

Candy Bar Covers

2011-11-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs....It's All Fiddle Fart. You simply MUST check it out. These are some cute candy bar covers she gives step by step directions for. There's also plenty of other Christmas stuff being posted....lovely tags and card ideas!!!

October Rudolph Day

2011-10-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't been very inspired to blog of late. My goal was to blog every Rudolph Day here at Rudolph's Ramblings but thus far it hasn't happened!! Perhaps that will be my 2012 goal! It would work better if I planned ahead and had posts ready and waiting...where they just publish on Rudolph Day...but to do that...one needs to be inspired AND organized. lol

I hope you had a GREAT October Rudolph Day and as we move into the most wonderful time of the year, I hope the peace and joy of Christmas is present EVERY DAY in your life! I used to joke that from November 25th till Christmas Day that EVERY DAY was Rudolph Day...perhaps I should make that from October Rudolph Day till Christmas.

We are also moving into the part of the year that for some reason I am less inclined to blog or even post over at MHH. I think I get so wrapped up in "living life" that I forget all about online activities. And that's not a bad thing really! :)

I hope you are "on track" for Christmas and enjoy your holiday season!

Happy July Rudolph Day!

2011-07-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas in July!! Life has messed up my plans to blog EVERY day in July....but I still consider it a pretty successful month....I've been able to share a lot!!!

More Fun Coming Soon!

2011-07-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Having troble downloading picson Blogger today....so I'm just posting a reminder that the fun continues...

July 25th-Aug. 24th is Finish Up Your Stocking Stuffers Month!!

August 25th-Spet. 24th is the Month of Elf

So stick around for more holiday fun in the weeks to come!

Charlie Brown Game

2011-07-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this game I came across. I thought it would be a fun addition to family game night for the holidays!

Week Three of Christmas in July

2011-07-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

It's Week Three: A Small World Christmas.....around the world the celebration of Christmas is one of the most beautiful of all holidays! So this week please join us at Magical Holiday Home for "It's a Small World Christmas" as we check out celebrations around the world!

A Christmas Fairy

2011-07-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

Check out this 2010 Christmas Fairy....after all in Hollywood... Fairy Tales DO come true! Take a closer look: HERE

Gingerbread House Decorating Party

2011-07-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

Something fun for the "younger" Hollywood set: A Gingerbread House Decorating Party. There's a fun little twist to this one....it's made from rice krispies. So for those of you that aren't fond of gingerbread....this is a new twist on an old tradition!

You can read the directions and see step by step pictures of how to create the house over at Rachael Ray Whether you use her idea for a rice krispie house or use the traditional gingerbread one this party can be a success for kids and adults alike! There are so many possibilities for colorful and clever decorating materials!

Bundt Cake Anyone?

2011-07-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

When I think fancy ....I don't necessarily think bundt cake....but this one has a classic look to it! With fluffy wintery white icing, peppermint candies, and that sugar sparkling cake plate it says...CELEBRATE! You can find ideas for create this lovely cake, along with several others over at Southern Living.

Hollywood Christmas Parade

2011-07-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

The Hollywood Christmas parade for the past 80 years raising money for Toys for Tots.....Hollywood in the spirit of Christmas.
Check out clips form the 2010 parade: HERE

Tablescapes

2011-07-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for tablescapes, check out the ideas over at Inspire Bohemia Not only does she share this little beauty but she has a dozens more! So lovely and creative!

Over at Dream Mom, you can check out a classic tablescape featuring red and gold. So classic and there are lots more pictures so pop over and take a close up look!

Calfinder features a glitzy tablescape idea using trees! The pretty colors and the ornament trees are unique and will bring make a special tea party even better!

If you like to entertain during the holidays, July is the time to start thinking!! Remember to SIMPLIFY by using items and decor that you already have on hand. Use them in new or different ways, combine unusual pieces or display them in new places. You can bring glitzy to your Christmas without investing a lot of money. Use what you have and add a little sparkle from the dollar store!!

Holiday Decor: A Christmas Carol

2011-07-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

Since I posted about A Christmas Carol on the Magical Holiday Home page and at Rudolph Day.com I thought I'd make it a trio by posting about it here....with A Christmas Carol ornament round up! The ones pictures above are awesome although a little too pricey for me. They come from: Old World Christmas Treasures

A sign featured by Molly Mechant

An ornament featured over at Midwest Sass.

Then there's the Mickey version.....at Disney Cartoons.

Regardless of your choice of holiday decor....always remember....

It's A Grinch Roundup

2011-07-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to dive into Hollywood via the villian of Christmas....the Grinch! The lights featured above I found over at Nerd Approved.

Then there are personalized Grinch ornaments at Gifts.com

Or perhaps you could include your stuffed Grinch in a wreath creation! This is shown over at: Hubpages.com

Or maybe a game of Grinch Bingo. I picked this up one year after Christmas at Target and last year Evan loved playing it!!

And then over at Sugar Swings....we have the Grinch Cupcakes!! These are sure to please the kids!

No matter how you stack it...the Grinch is a classic Christmas icon...Thanks to Hollywood and the movie industry!

Christmas Hollywood Style

2011-07-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

Week Two and we are moving into Christmas Hollywood style. Look for lots of glitzy decor and gold. We are moving into tablescapes, recipes, and fancy trees. Along with all of it we will be looking at some Christmas favorites (movies) that come to us via Hollywood!

I hope you are enjoying Christmas in July and we hope you'll enjoy a serving of it Hollywood style!

Rudolph Noses

2011-07-09T03:59:00.000-07:00

There are many cute cute thrifty things to create and give as gifts over at It's All Fiddle Fart.

Check out these Rudolph Noses. So cute as a stocking stuffer or tucked in a gift basket, or as a hostess gift or a little treat for someone special. Maybe even as a gift from your magic elf!

And then suppose...just suppose....Rudolph had a Cold.......

Super cute and there are lots of other Christmasy ideas at her blog...so hop on over and check it out! You are sure to find something that suits your fancy!!

Rudolph Cookies Roundup

2011-07-08T03:03:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to do my own little Rudolph cookies and candy roundup. Here's a quick sampling of what I found:

From MyLifeThroughMyLens

From: Plating Up

From: Big Oven

From: Cake Central

From: A Lady's Findings

There are lots more out there but these are some of my faves!!

Gum Drop Tree

2011-07-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

This classic little gumdrop tree...looks so sweet with Christmas candy! It would make a quick and easy centerpiece for the main table or on a buffet.

Here's another version of a Gumdrop Tree. I like the little star shooting out of the trees!
And then another take on the gum drop tree.....so dainty!

Isn't it amazing what creative takes one can find on candy....and nice that it can serve two purposes...decor and dessert!

Sweet Gift Wraps

2011-07-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't this sweet? Using candy to add to your gifts instead of bows. What an extra special little treat included with your gift. This idea comes to Rudolph Ramblings from Country Living.

I like the pretty red and white sucker and how it coordinates with the paper and ribbon, I think it would also be fun to get those little treat bags (cloth not paper) and tie them with ribbon to dangle off the gift. We throw away so much paper and bows that it would be fun to include something that will actually get used (eaten!)

Christmas Almond Crunch

2011-07-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Check out this recipe over at All Recipes

This yummy recipe would be perfect in gift tins, boxes, or baskets! Crunchy and sweet.....the perfect combination for a Sweet Candy Christmas!!!

Also check out Carmel Corn Snack Mix and Stained Glass Candy Those are two other great "gift" candies!!

Christmas in July Candy Ornaments

2011-07-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

What would a Sweet Candy Christmas be without some candy ornaments. Check these cuties out over at Trendy Tree.

Some of their items are out of stock right now but it's a site worth bookmarking for future use! Check out the elves and candy too...

What a super cute set and they would be perfect for an elf tree!!!

A Sweet Tree!

2011-07-03T04:05:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the cutest? The wooden limbs of the tree would be easy to cut, paint, and drill holes in for the lollipops. The topper could most likely be bought at a craft store....hmmm....the base might be tricky but could probably find something to use.

This would certainly make a child's eyes light up! It would also work great as an "elf tree" from your magic elf! I'm sure with some creativity we can think of all kind of ways to use this festive candy tree.

Everythings Candy Canes!!

2011-07-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a candy cane version that uses poms but over at Skip to My Lou. There are several candy cane versions...so be sure and check it out!
There are plenty of candy ornament crafts out there...I'd love to hear about some you have found!!

It's a Sweet Candy Christmas!

2011-07-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the sweetest and simplest little craft around! And it fits perfectly with the first week of Christmas in July...so gather up some empty jars, add a ribbon and small trinket....and at Christmas fill it with some colorful Christmas Candy. This would make a great hostess gift when you are attending parties!

Happy June Rudolph Day

2011-06-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

Okay. I'm cheating a little and posting this a few days AFTER Rudolph Day...but I was camping when Rudolph Day rolled around....but hey even so...I managed to pick up a stocking stuffer....so I accomplished a tiny bit.

In just a few days Christmas in July will arrive....here in Missouri the weather will be hot and sunny and maybe even thunderstorms but I'll be enjoying thoughts of Christmas. It's July when my thoughts really get geared up for shopping, organizing and preparing. The last couple years I've worked toward simplifying Christmas and it has been a rewarding experience...less really is more at times.

Things I've cut back on include:

1, Stocking Stuffers: I refused to get sucked into all the cute gimicky things that are out there for stocking stuffers. Reason: There still sitting around come July, often without being touched. So I am trying to opt instead for a couple cute things, a couple practical things and a couple wild cards. Six is the limit....and last year it worked out just fine...no one felt slighted at all.

2. Parties: A friend decided to host a Christmas party for our "friend" group in 2010 and she did an awesome job...so I opted OUT of hosting a Christmas party. We still did the annual Gratitude Brunch Thanksgiving weekend Sunday and it was just the right kick off for the holiday season. We included an ornament exchange. My daughter wanted to host our small extended family party on a Sunday before Christmas so I helped her with that and it was the perfect setting. AND it took that off my responsibility list! I always have a Christmas Eve Dinner for family and a few close friends. Last year was fingerfoods so this year is an actual buffet dinner. Need to get a simple menu in place!!

3. Gifts: Cut down slightly on gifts and it worked well. I still might cut back a bit more this year. Christmas is not just gifts. It's so much more. Another thing I did to simplify was do gift categories...like a movie, a book, some clothes, house item, etc. That way my children got an assortment and it helped me focus on what to be looking for.

4. Crafts: I've never been a huge craft person but I am always lured into wanting to "make" something. Sometimes even when it turns out great its still just one more thing to store and display. So I virtually did NO crafts in 2010...didn't miss them at all...used my creativity for the decor and the party favors etc.

5. Decor: I put out probably a fifth of my Christmas decor in 2010 and the house still looked fully decorated. I am slowly getting rid of some things unless I really LOVE them but I also realize that it's ok to keep then and just alternate years that I use them. There are a few things that I want out every year but not all. It sure made the decorating AND the de-decorating a lot easier. I still have a long way to go decluttering and organizing the stuff but it's very freeing!! I also try to re-purpose and use things I already have on hand for centerpieces etc. rather than adding more "things" to my overflowing house!

I'll keep you up to date on my Simplifying Christmas efforts!! And now......Christmas in July will be arriving SOON!!!

Soon it will be...Christmas in July!!!

2011-06-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

The year is flying by and soon it will be Christmas in July. Over at Magical Holiday Home we will be kicking off a month long celebration with weekly crafts, recipes, ideas and giveaways....YES give aways!!

This year we are using weekly themes for our annual Christmas in July celebration:

A Sweet Candy Christmas
Hollywood Christmas (movies, silver and gold, and all the glitz!)
It's a Small World Christmas (holiday traditions from around the world)
A Victorian Christmas celebration (travel back in tiem to experience a Victorian Christmas!)

Oh I do hope you'll join us on the forums to celebrate or follow along on Magical Holiday Home home page, or check in here at Rudolph's ramblings for all the latest and greatest...Christmas in July!

Happy May Rudolph Day!

2011-05-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

May is the beginning of one of my favorite Rudolph Day months....this is the month we look at recipes and themes! I love party planning and cooking. I enjoy browsing the recipe books. The biggest problem I have is making final decisions....I want it all!

This month here at Rudolph's Ramblings and also over at Magical Holiday Home and Rudolph Day.com I'll be sharing recipes and party theme ideas through out the month! I hope you will enjoy the ideas and please comment! It's always nice to know someone is reading!!

Happy April Rudolph Day

2011-04-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

It's April already. Easter is past and it's time to start planning Christmas in July. Where oh where is the year going too. For 2011, I am focusing on decluttering and planning. How do these pertain to Rudolph Day? Well the planning part is easy....getting things in place early....but the declutter? Well I am making a really big effort not to bring any more "stuff" into this house. And that is holiday stuff in a BIG WAY.....I have so much already so my focus is to really evaluate what I have and keep the things I love and get rid of the rest. More is NOT better and when I open up some space to really display what I do have it takes on a new beauty.

Enjoy your Rudolph Day and don't forget the beauty of keeping it SIMPLE...

January 2011 Rudolph Day

2011-01-25T04:37:00.000-08:00

It’s Christmas Notebook Month!

Time to reflect on Christmas past, jot notes for next Christmas, and declutter the notebook. Don’t forget to update addresses using the Christmas cards you received! Print new pages and get ready for the new year! This is a good time to update or start your gift closet inventory and tuck it in your notebook! Also make a list of things needed for the coming Christmas….new lights? ornaments? etc

Rudolph Day List:

Take time this month to look ahead and jot down ideas for future Rudolph Days. Use the ideas list or personalize it to fit your individual needs!

I hope to be back later this evening to post a little Christmas idea HAPPY RUDOLPH DAY

Santa's Sleigh

2010-12-13T04:56:00.000-08:00

Every year many people give to other's in need. Times are tough and giving is down. If you have a few extra dollars that you would like to add to Santa's Sleigh....what a great way to get in the true spirit of Christmas.

Jeff at the Merry Network (of which Magical Holiday Home is a part) sponsors this annual event. He selects the family that the proceeds benefit and therefore you can be assured that your dollars are truly reaching the hearts of those is need.

Please consider giving just a small amount. Those small amounts add up and can make Christmas bright!

Let There Be Peace Card

2010-10-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Wow look how beautiful this card is. Check it out over at Amazing Paper Grace. There are plenty of wonderful ideas!!! So pretty I'd almost hate to send it!!

Reindeer Craft

2010-09-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

Aren't these simple reindeer adorable. They would be perfect with a rustic Christmas look or a log cabin theme! You can find information about making them at The Home Site

Snowmen Clay Pots

2010-08-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another super thrifty craft that would also make a cute little present for your child's teacher. A pair of clay pot snowmen. These are made with a little clay pot, wooden ball, buttons, some paint and fabric scraps. Aren't they delightful? So easy to make and you could make them to match any color scheme. I also have an elf one I'll be posting about over at Magic Elves a little later! This idea comes from How Did I Do It?

When I was cruising the resale shops I found several little clay pots that I picked up for a quarter each...didn't know exactly what I was going to use them for but now I know...witches, elves, and snowmen!! It's sure to be a super fun fall and winter!! On the SAME trip I also picked up two bags of wooden heads (3 in each bag) for a quarter each....so a dollar for 4 pots and 50 cents for six wooden heads....SCORE!!

Bottle Caps Countdown

2010-08-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Directions and patterns for these holiday bottle caps over at craftideas.info I was thinking these would work super great with a magnet on the back and you could create your own Christmas Countdown or Advent Calendar on your fridge!! Just use a little number along with the image!!

Happy August Rudolph Day!

2010-08-25T01:08:00.000-07:00

It's finally here....the magic month we have been waiting for...the Month of the Elf.....and there are at least FIVE key places you can read about Magic Elves from now until September 24th.

Rudolph Ramblings: You can read about the magic elves and this wonderful Christmas tradition...right here at Rudolph's Ramblings. I'll be posting throughout the month when the whim strikes. I'll be looking for some books, ornaments, and elfcapades to share with you.

Magic Elves: My Magical Holiday Home blog: Magic Elves will feature daily elf postings. I"ve searched the internet to find some fun and delightful things to feature at Magic Elves. I hope you'll enjoy my discoveries!

Magical Holiday Home blog: Throughout the month I'll be featuring Magical Holiday Home members elves on the MHH blog home page along with other elf goodies!

Magic Elves Forum: This forum is part of the Magical Holiday Home forums and is sure to be abuzz with members ideas and conversations about elves! Make sure you visit us!

Rudolph Day.com: There will be a few tidbits of Magic Elf lore and fun over at Rudolph Day.com So please stop by and leave a comment too if you are so inclined.

I imagine there will be other members blogging about elves also...so I'll give a Shout Out when I see some elf posts! This month is sure to be fun filled!!

HAPPY AUGUST RUDOLPH DAY!!!

JOY Garage Sale Frames

2010-08-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Our town had a city wide yard sale a couple weeks back and I managed to pick up quite a few junk to treasure things. Total cost of all the items= $12.50 Shown above are three little frames purchased for 25 cents each. I have removed the glass.

Here are the same three frames after spray painting (1st coat). I used antique white. I waited for them to dry and applied a second coat.

Same three frames. I cut some matting from scrapbook paper scraps and placed them inside the frames.

Same three....added some letters to spell J O Y. As you will see in the final picture, I ended up changing the paper and putting the green in the center for the letter o instead of last.

Here's the final picture with the paper switched and the glass back in the frames. I have them sitting at the base of a wooden Christmas tree that I also bought for $1.00 during the same yard sale trip. I think they will look cute nestled in some greenery on a table or mantle. I just didn't feel like digging through the Christmas stuff to get some greenery!

Project Costs:

Frames= 75 cents

Paint: $1.00 (I bought a can for $4.00 but barely used any for this project)

Paper and Letters= 0 (in stash of scrapping stuff)

Total Cost = $1.75 (and probably less since I used very little paint)

Since I used antique white for the frames you could rotate out the mats and have BOO at Halloween, etc. Isn't it amazing how one can throw together a little new decor for pennies and a little imagination!

Happy July Rudolph Day

2010-07-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more exciting than Rudolph Day during Christmas in July! The holiday season is headed our way so time to really get busy preparing.

July is Finish Stocking Stuffer's Month and it's also the time to work on your cards. You will be glad you finished these two tasks early once the busy holiday season is here! You have from today until Rudolph Day in August to finish these two items!

I have an exciting announcement for you....RudolphDay.com

Rudolph Day.com is brought to you by several members of the Merry network. We will be blogging about holiday prep, recipes, traditions, and crafts. I hope you will take a moment to check out the site. We are just getting started but we'd love to hear your comments!

French Vanilla Cocoa Mix in a Jar

2010-07-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Vanilla is one of my favorites.....so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it!!!

French Vanilla Cocoa Mix in a Jar
Yield: About 8 pint-size jars.

10 1/2 cups non-fat dry milk
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 (8 ounce) jars French vanilla flavored non-dairy powdered creamer
3 1/2 cups chocolate mix for milk (Nestle's Quick)
2 3/4 cup non-dairy powdered creamer
1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients and ladle into jars. Cover tightly. Attach the following directions on a gift tag:

French Vanilla Cocoa:
Stir 3 heaping tablespoons of cocoa mix into hot water or milk.

Amaretto Cocoa Mix

2010-07-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Amaretto Cocoa Mix in a Jar

Have ready 8 (1-pint) jars.

10 1/2 cups non-fat dry milk
4 cups confectioners sugar
2 (8 ounce) jars Amaretto flavored non-dairy powdered creamer
3 1/2 cups Nestle's Quik
2 3/4 cups non-dairy powdered creamer
1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients and divide among the jars. Yields approximately 8 pint size gift jars.
Attach the following directions on a card:

Amaretto Cocoa:
Combine 3 heaping tablespoons of cocoa mix into 1 cup hot water or milk.

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

2010-07-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here's the recipe for the Peppermint Sugar Scrub:

Ingredients
An empty jar with a lid
1 cup granulated white sugar
6 candy canes/peppermint candy (approx ¼ cup), finely crushed into a powder
1/2 cup olive oil (or any of the oils in the basic recipe)
6 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
Label (if desired)

Directions:
1. Pour the granulated white sugar and crushed peppermint into the jar.
2. Put the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.
3. Pour the liquid ingredients into sugar mix.
4. Put the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.
5. Label the jar as desired.

Notes: I haven't made this yet. I am going to try experimenting without the essential oil and see how the fragarance is using just the candy. I have some peppermint essential oil around here somewhere but can't seem to locate it. Also looking for crushed peppermint (like for cookies etc) since that might be easier to get crushed into powder. Also they have those peppermint puffs (rather than the hard round ones). They always remind me of little pillows...but I know they are softer so might be easier to crush. We like to use them in our ice tea and they melt.

Kahlua Brown Sugar Scrub

2010-07-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the recipe for the Kahlua Brown Sugar Scrub

Ingredients
An empty jar with a lid
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup granulated brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
6 drops of vanilla
Label (if desired)

Make it
1. Pour the granulated white sugar and brown sugar into a bowl and mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.
2. Pour the sugar mixture into a jar.
3. Pour the liquid ingredients into sugar mix.
4. Put the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.
5. Label the jar as desired.

Notes: Two things to keep in mind. Try to find dark colored jars for the sugar scrub and also if you want to help increase shelf life you might try adding a small amount of Vitamin E oil. I believe you can buy them as gel pills....snip the end and add the oil to the scrub. Try 1/2 teaspoon as a natural preservative.

Christmas Planning: Gifts in a Jar

2010-07-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

A few years back I did some Candy Cane Bath Salts and they turned out very cute. Since then though I haven't used many gifts in a jar type of gifts. I think part of the reason is my mind set. I seem to think that I need to "add" something to the gift in a jar ....gift. Like, in and of itself, it's not enough, Even though ingredients and stuff may equal what I would normally pay for that person's gift. This year with being frugal in mind I am going to make some sets of gifts in a jar and that is going to BE the gift. Or so the plan is for now....

I have four items I'm looking at using...

Two are Sugar Scrubs

Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Kahlua Brown Sugar Scrub

Two are Cocoa Mixes:

Amaretto Cocoa
French Vanilla Cocoa

I have five people who will get both kinds of the sugar scrubs in a little gift bag! And three people who will get one of the sugar scrubs and one of the hot chocolate mixes. I also have two people who will get two of the hot cocoa mixes. So with these projects I will knock out basically ten gifts plus have a few random ones left over for hostess gifts or unexpected needs!

September is Gifts in a Jar and Baskets Month so I will make sure I have all jars, baskets, labels made and ingredients bought that month. I will be looking for jars between now and then...recycling jars is fine just sterilize them with boiling water and dry before using! The Cocoa Mixes I will actually make in September because they have a long shelf life. The Sugar Scrubs I will make in December to extend their shelf life once they are given as gifts! As long as I have everything bought and gathered it should be a snap to get them ready one December afternoon or evening!

Just a note: I also read that if you use dark colored jars it helps make the scrubs last longer so like brown glass or that colbalt blue would be good to be looking for. You can use clear glass to but they keep better in the dark.

July Rudolph Day

2010-07-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

Will be here before you know it....yikes!

Finish Stocking Stuffers Month: Don't forget July is the month to finish up stocking stuffers. Don't get sucked into all that cute trinket-y stuff that comes out right before Christmas. Looked at once and tossed aside quickly....so go ahead and pick out some fun stocking stuffers NOW and be done with it!

Christmas Cards: This is the month I start thinking/looking/working on my cards. I always say I am going to make cards but I seldom do...usually buy some on clearance after Christmas...so I get them out in July...admire them, sign them and maybe even address some of them.

On July 25th.....I'll have a special surprise announcement....so be sure and check back here!!!

Merry Christmas in July

2010-07-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

It's July 5th and I am just putting up my first Christmas in July post. Vacation and family has kept me busy for the first few days of the month but Christmas has never been far from my mind!

I have a special surprise for readers.....come July 25th.....so stay tuned for some interesting updates and something new!

This is FINISH STOCKING STUFFERS MONTH...and I plan to work a bit on that tomorrow! So I'll update any progress I make!

Christmas in July is the perfect time to work on Christmas cards. For those that make them...it's time to decide on a design and get your materials ready. Then set up your assembly line and get started. I always say I am going to make my cards but usually end up using ones I have bought on clearance the day after Christmas. There are sooo many lovely designs. This year I have some cute ones. Two boxes...each box has 13 snowman ones and 13 Santa ones for a total of 52 cards. These are for family and friends. I have other cards for the card exchange at MHH. The Snowman cards say Warm Wishes and on the inside have..."for a bright and happy holiday." the Santa ones say Jolly Holidays on the front and..." Hope Santa brings all your favorite things." on the inside of the card.

Sometime this month I will open the boxes and start signing the cards. It's just a little thing but a real time saver come the busy days of December. This year in an effort to "simplify" Christmas I am considering doing away with the news letter. Haven't made a final decision on that yet but it is the way I am leaning.

I'll pop back in soon....with more Christmas in July updates. Until then have a MERRY CHRISTMAS in JULY!!!

Happy June Rudolph Day

2010-06-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

Not going to get a lot of Rudolph stuff accomplished today due to getting ready for my vacation. I will play some Christmas music and think "snowy" thoughts.

Rudolph Day is a wonderful way to have a bit of Christmas fun and get ready for Christmas at the same time. I have learned to plan some small managable things each month. It's always easy for me to over plan and then feel discouraged. So this year I've planned small things that can be fun but also move me toward being ready for Christmas. In addition, I have set some time lines for certain things.

For example: July is Finish Stocking Stuffer month and August is the Month of the Elf....so by getting those two things out of the way early I can continue to move toward a more organized Christmas. In addition, I will use August to at least assess where I am on the St. Nick gifts. I have some things to use but I need to get a better idea of how this is going to unfold. (1st year of doing it)

These are small things that can have a big impact. I tend to over buy little gifts for stockings, elf gifts, and such so this will limit that because I will be done with those aspects of the plan. There are tons of little things that come out during the Christmas season but realistically they are "cute" and that's about it. How many Christmas notepads does a person need...lol.

I already feel a bit behind (lol) as I meant to have a lot more done by this time of the year but I will just continue to work my plan step by step.

Treasured Find #1

2010-06-20T17:00:00.001-07:00

I found a set of dishes at the flea market. It's the four piece place setting you see above x4. So it is for four people! I already have a green snowman set which I love but figured with this little set I could mix and match the dishes...And with snowmen they are good through February where i live! What a find for four bucks.

Here's a close up of one of the plates so you can get a better look at the snowmen and the snowflakes. The border is a deep red color which looks almost brown here in the picture. I didn't really need them...but alas....I bought them anyway and for the price one can hardly complain!

Rudolph Day May 2010

2010-05-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

Rudolph Day to me is about a bit of prep and a bit of fun. So I hope today you had a tiny bit of Christmas Cheer.

Some things to be pondering and how they relate to life.

1. Rudolph was a misfit....remember the Island of Misfit Toys? But really what makes someone a misfit...because they do not fit the "social norm"? Wow, look at society today. Is there a norm and if there is...is it really something we want to fit?

2. Rudolph tried to run away and in the end that didn't work out too well. Luckily he had some friends to come bail him out. Running away from problems rarely solves them. Just like in Christmas prep. Worried about how you will afford Christmas? Waiting till the last minute isn't going to make it any better. Make some decisions now about how to simplify and then start doing some small things now to afford a wonderful Christmas. Not elaborate....just WONDERFUL.

3. Even wise people make mistakes. Santa went along with the group and didn't quite see how special Rudolph was. He was old and wise and kind hearted but he still made a mistake. Remember that just because some one is "suppose" to be wise doesn't make them an expert. Even experts make mistakes.

Happy Rudolph Day....and I'll see you again next month with some teachings from Rudolph and some notes on how things are progressing at my house!

May Rudolph Day

2010-05-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

May Rudolph Day is coming up this Tuesday. I am determined to particiapte in Rudolph Day Movie Club. It is actually book and movie club but I know that I can't pull off a book every month.....but a movie....surely I can do that!

The movie this month is Miracle on 34th Street. It's actually been awhile since I watched it and I'm hoping Evan who's three will be interested enough in it to watch it with me. It's a classic but I'm not sure there's enough action to hold his interest. We will see.

My focus for this month is gifts.....and I'm not sure it's in the budget for a shopping trip but I might be able to pick up one or two things. Or there is something that I'd at least like to price and see. However I can get my gift list updated and look through the gift closet. This year I actially have a gift closet but so far I am just sort of putting stuff in there....Really need to organize a bit and update what I have manged to stuff in there.

Simplify Christmas

2010-03-09T15:08:00.000-08:00

Along with the rest of the USA, I am overwhelmed with choices, budget concerns, and just too sutff....too materialistic. This past Christmas (09) I cut back quite a bit and we still had a great time and didn't feel deprived at all. I just cut down a few gifts, did a little less baking, and stopped overbooking the holiday season.

Evan loved Ben the Elf and it was the highlight of a lot of our holiday season...simple things though....some gifts but some experiences also. I did do the 24 days gifts but told everyone that 09 would be the last year for that. Instead in 2010 I will create a St. Nick's Day basket for each and they will get it on St. Nick's Day. I'm not sure if the cost will really be any less but it will certainly be easier than finding and wrapping 24 gifts times 5.

I did miss out on baking like I wanted to so I think I will do just a little more of that in 2010. The Christmas party and the Christmas Eve dinner went very well. This year I will be planning simpler fare for Christmas Eve. One year I will do more of a meal and the next fingerfoods and appetizers, So 2010...is the finger foods year!!

I cut down on stocking stuffers and no one seemed to mind at all...there were still several things but not near as many as in the past. I know for sure that wrapping will have to happen early in 2010....it was almost the death of me...lol. As well as forgetting where I hid gifts. I've already cleaned out a closet and have stuff accumulating in there...so at least it will all be in the same place...Plus wrapped gifts and Santa gifts will need to be kept under wraps better becuase Evan will be four and watching a lot closer.

It came to me when I sat down to write this ....that less is more...when we slow down and take time to relish the activities (like Ben the Elf)...it's so much more than rushing to do this, this, and this. When we limit our parties and gifts we take more time to relish the occassions and the presents. So Simplify Christmas is my motto for 2010...and I've even simplified Rudolph Day!!! I mean after all it's suppose to be FUN not frantic...!!

Blogging for Rudolph

2010-03-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my blogs again....and I've discovered the new page feature here at blogspot...if you look directly under my header picture you will see links to different pages....so far all I have up are the Home link and the link for 2010 Rudolph Days....but it's a start....:)

Santa Fairy

2009-08-09T08:06:00.001-07:00

Here's the cute box the little Santa Fairy came in...it's a decoration in its own right!!!

Here's the little fellow I found while in Florida. Evidently there is a whole series of these and they are a bit pricey...so I bought one at 25% off...lol. A Fairy Christmas tree does have a certain appeal though...just so many possibilities!!

He is delicate but also has a sort of Victorian or Old World "feel" to him. I need to look online because I know this must be a "famous" series that I have never discovered...LOL

My Christmas....Santa Fairy

2009-07-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well guess what. While in sunny Florida I just happened onto a Christmas shop....LOL...and what did I find? First of all they were having a Christmas in July sale...lol....and everything was 25% off!!! WHOOPEE.

But I found three of the cutest ever elves....now do I really NEED more elves...NOPE...but at 25% off....come on...who could resist. AND I decided to ask about Christmas Fairies...and discovered some Santa Fairies...they were a little pricey but hey....25% off...I had a hard time picking one but I finally did....

I'll get the Santa Fairy and the elves out tomorrow and take some pics to share with you....Gotta LOVE CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

Printable Holiday Planners

2009-07-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post before heading off to Florida tomorrow. I wanted to give you some links to some printable planners....most have menus, recipes, and checklist included.

Ultimate Holiday Planner

Holiday Dessert Planner

Holiday Potluck Party Planner

These simple planners have tips and other fun things also. So check them out!!!

Christmas in July Continues

2009-07-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

HO HO HO.....it's the most important month of the year...JULY...and time to start thinking about Christmas. Last year I posted daily during July but this year...LIFE.....still I think I've managed to keep some new material up and found some ideas to help keep Christmas simple but special.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas in July fun and getting lots accomplished...and even WITHOUT accomplishing anything....at least we are starting the wheels spinning in our endeavor to have a simple and organized Christmas 2009. Next week I'll be relaxing at the beach and I'm not bothering to code blog posts to publish because I hear people have been having trouble with that...SO while I'm there I'll be dreaming of a white Christmas and maybe even picking up a couple stocking stuffers...LOL

Gift Card Holders

2009-07-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

The gift card holder above is created using scrap paper and a bit of ribbon...so use your imagination and jazz up your gift card giving!!

Another cute creation....love the little tab with the 25th stamped on it! Too Cute.

This little cutie is made with felt and buttons...It can be used for gift cards or as an ornament....or BOTH!!

As I wrote about earlier, it's the special little touches that make the holidays fun and make people feel extra special. So don;t just pop that gift card in an envelope. Use one of these nifty ideas from Better Homes and Garden to spice it up!!

Simple Christmas Centerpieces

2009-07-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

You MUST check out the slide show over at Better Homes and Gardens....it features 40 easy to do Christmas Centerpieces...So FUN...bright and colorful...and best of all using items you may very well already have on hand. The one shown above uses a red them in a silver serving bowl...just gather up ornaments and garland in the color theme of your choice and create a quick simple centerpiece.

This glass vase is filled with gold items...notice the varied sizes which makes the display more interesting.

I'm not a big fan of black but this is a different type of centerpiece. Notice the varied heights of the display adding visual appeal.

This one uses two mini tress and a bowl of apples...as you can see this is set in a French style kitchen using mainly white and red as the color scheme.

This is one of my faves....the simple glass candle stick holders repurposed as a centerpiece...again varied heights......the plain red balls have been decorated with gold glitter paint to spell NOEL...but use your imagination and I'm sure you can think of a variety of Christmas words that might work well....JOY comes to mind!!

Holiday Cranberry Chutney

2009-07-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

This recipe from allrecipes.com can be used as a great easy holiday gift. Package it in a decorated jar, and give with a box of crackers and cream cheese. Also a nice hostess gift or easy for a potluck party.

INGREDIENTS
1 (12 ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
1 large cooking apple, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer for 15-20 minutes or until apple is tender and mixture thickens. Cool completely.
Store in the refrigerator. Serve over cream cheese with crackers or as a condiment with pork, ham or chicken.

Christmas Crackers

2009-07-13T11:25:00.001-07:00

Here's a site with step by step directions for making the perfect Christmas Crackers! I bought a few boxes a a couple years ago at the flea market and there were an immediate hit at my annual Christmas party. I've never tried making them before but seriously would like to...I've no doubt this method would wrap them expertly....but knowing me...I'll just use some toilet tissue rolls and wrap them LOL.

Catching Up With Christmas in July

2009-07-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

Missed a few days....so thought I'd post some "catch up" thoughts today. I've been thinking a lot about stocking stuffers and items for the 24 Days gifts. Last year I really cut down on the items in stockings and no one seemed to notice at all. So I really want to get this "done" ahead of time...so far I've set two deadlines for that...and it hasn't happened yey...LOL...so the new deadline is the end of August!

The Twenty Four Days of Christmas gifts are another story and more difficult...I think they are about half done. The problem is...just buying random stuff isn't very exciting because if its just "cheap junk" that is going to be tossed aside then whats the point...so I need to seriously look at this and see how to make it more meaningful to the people receiveing them.

Well, one reason I got off track is this week my husband is off work...LOL...its always harder to get stuff done when he's under foot...THEN the week of July 20th I'll be at the beach for five days...soooo sorrry but Christmas in July will be on hold while I enjoy the sun, surf and relax a bit before I go back to work on July 27th.

Christmas Place Cards for the Table

2009-07-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

There are dozens and dozens of beautiful placecard holders that you can purchase...but keeping with my SIMPLIFY theme, I went in search of some that could be made. REASON: I'm tired of Organizing, storing, and finding items. My house is out of room for storage...so handmade plaecards can easily be disposed of or some can simply be used as little party favors!!

The one shown above is a sweet little print, cut and put together model from Martha Stewart.

The ones above...pinecones spray painted gold and silver, lovely for a natural or rustic table setting. Or use them plain for Thanksgiving.

So remember, no storage, just make and take, or dispose of after the festivites!!!

Day Four: Happy Fourth of July!!!!

2009-07-04T08:17:00.001-07:00

Day Three: Flavored Water Bottles

2009-07-03T07:51:00.001-07:00

As soon as I saw these over at Angelosity...I fell in love with them...and the possibilites...use Christmas themed paper and you have great little party favors...or a little something special to tuck in a gift basket. You can take a look at the post about them HERE. Perhaps with an Elf theme, they could be used as small gifts from the elves or as part of the 24 Days of Christmas gifts. Oh the possiblities are simply endless!!

Below is a slightly different take on a water bottle from over at Lizzie Anne Designs. I'm envisioning Christmas paper and a tag...not sure what kind of Christmas party I could create to use these but there has to be something AND if not...maybe for my BOO BASH.....using Halloween materials!!

Day Two: Christmas Planners

2009-07-02T07:59:00.001-07:00

Today I'm focusing on my Christmas Notebook and a few files that I use for Christmas Planning...I use a VERY basic (goes along with simplify) three ring binder to house most of my Christmas planning stuff. There are however tons and tons of ideas for fabulous notebooks, folders, planners etc.

Check out Christmas Planners (a site by CEO of Organized Christmas). This site has a wonderful round-up of Christmas planner ideas...each one is beautiful and useful too. i really like the altered spiral notebook featured above because the idea of a brand new notebook for each year is VERY appealing...I could envision it as PLANNER and MEMORY BOOK all rolled up in one...

Then we have one of my faves...Melinda's Notebook Tour...featuring the Holiday Grand Plan...its simple, its organized, it works!!

Here's a very simple, easy to use notebook planner at Training Tons of Sons.

There are soooo many possibilities....BUT I know me...tried and true and simple works best....otherwise I get sooo caught up in creating the "perfect" Christmas planner that I never get any planning done!! See you tomorrow for another tidbit of Christmas planning!!

Day One: Christmas Planning

2009-07-01T00:24:00.000-07:00

Christmas Planning isn't just a topic....it's an attitude! LOL. The truth is every year I always swear to be more organized...and every year in the hustle and bustle of daily life...things get left undone...or unfinished....or even unstarted....and it drives me to distraction...so the first RULE of Christmas Planning 2009.....SIMPLIFY.....I've said it before...but this year....it's time to LIVE it...

During July I will be making lists, organizing my notebook, perhaps even getting those cards made and signed....but one thing that will be in my mind the most is the SPIRIT of the season....not just gifts and good food...but the idea that the loving kindness we show each other is what makes us human....that small things DO matter....in fact maybe even more than the BIG things!

Two practical goals for the month...things that over the long haul will really make a difference!! I plan to finish up all stocking stuffers and 24 Days of Christmas gifts....then I want them tucked away in their shopping sized gift bags, labeled with names and ready for holiday fun...Last year these "little items" caused me more stress than the bigger things...so time to get them finished up. I already have a list started and some things purchased...time to examine and update the list and then make those final buys...!!!

Join me...Christmas Planning is an attitude and it's time to get yours ready for the best Christmas ever!!

Christmas in July

2009-06-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

With July 1st comes Christmas in July....a month long preparation and fun time for Christmas 2009. So join me here at Rudolph Day ramblings for some daily ramblings about what is going on during the month, musings, ideas, and other Christmas tidbits....it may not be time for the fireplace...but it is time to start thinking about CHRISTMAS.

February Rudolph Day

2009-02-21T18:36:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is February Rudolph Day and time to reflect on the progress...or lack of progress we may have made so far in preparing for Christmas 2009. I plan on doing the following:

Update my notebook with purchases.
Pick up several stocking stuffers.
Listen to Christmas Music
Work on a craft or two.

Here's the Rudolph Day list from February Monthly Magic

Take stock of gifts that you plan to make & create supply lists
Review the budget this month & continue saving
Decide on a card design
Start working on your Magic Elves notebook

Holiday Home Tour 2008

2008-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

This is a little snowman nativity set. I have it tucked into the china cabinet along with some other snow people and little tea sets.

One of my favorite signs made by my sister inlaw....We Believe in Santa!!!!

These are some stitched signs that I picked up a couple years ago...they are nice and simple with a country touch. The alternating red and green frames and matting make them a lovely accent and I have used them in a variety of ways.

Another favorite sign....All Hearts Come Home for Christmas!!!

Our tree...it looks a little drab in the picture cause the lights didn't show up but it is lovely at night with the lights twinkling. I topped it with a Boyds Bear angel this year! Picked up at the flea market for three dollars!

Heres a section of a rag garland with hearts and snowmen...I usually hang it across the top of the dry sink but I took it down to get a better picture for you!

A photo of the snowmen sign that hangs above the dry sink right inside our living room door! I love the rustic twigs that are glued on the frame!

Another section of the rag garland.

This is the dry sink this year with a photo display...every year I try something new on this surface. You can see the snowman material draped over the back. I have material for all the holidays and seasons and change it up each one...it adds a simple easy festive element to the living room and sooooo simple!!!

The angel that watches over the nativity set!

Here is my Mexican nativity set...I am finding it is made of clay and quite fragile. I like the antique box as the stable but it is a little too plain for me...so next year I will add a bit of straw.

A little metal...Letters to Santa tin mailbox...the end comes off so you can roll up your note or letter and tuck it inside. Purchased after Christmas for 50% off!!!
A Santa key for houses without chimineys....purchased at Siler Dollar City!

A patriotic Santa that I won at a party a few years ago....I like to hang an assortment of things from pegs and shelves...and he is one of my faves!

A closer look at some of my many Santas...this year my goal is to pack and inventory this collection a bit better.

Another section of the display and the old Christmas train I picked up at the flea market.

This is just a small part of my Santa collection. As I decided to simplify this year....I just picked a few to display!

Pictures and signs above the Santa display!

Just a few of the many snowmen I have...these are tucked on a shelf in the china cabinet!

The left side of the Christmas village displayed on the shelf above the love seat.
The middle section of the village.

The right end section of the village display.

A little sign that hangs under the village display.
A few more snowpeople....

This little white child's cabinet sits in my kitchen. Here is a close up of a minature tea set, a child's tea set and three magic elves. Below is another view of the cabinet.

Another kitchen display...my little tree is decorated with Christmas wine charms and I picked up the two coffee pots at the flea market for a couple of bucks.

I'm not really happy with this display. The shelf was empty and we were expecting company so I just threw up some random things...LOL

This old metal water pitcher with poinsettas sits on top of the Hoosier cabinet.!!!

This is a glass jar that I filled with mini pumpkins and gourds for fall and decided to fill it with icy stones and a couple of snowflake ornaments....not sure how I like it but....I like experimenting....LOL....

Well that's it for my 2008 Holiday Home Tour...hope you enjoyed it...now off to visit the other blogs in the tour!!

Rudolph Day 2009

2008-12-01T03:28:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't written anything in awhile here at Rudolph Day Ramblings...but not gonna beat myself up over it...LIFE happens....LOL.

With December comes the Ultimate Rudolph Day...CHRISTMAS. So we will start anew in 2009...January 25th will be the first Rudolph Day and my main plan will be to review the monthly Rudolph Day Lists from 2008 and see what needs to be tweaked or rearranged...what worked? what didn't? Are there items that need to be moved to another month? etc.

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone...I'll be back mid December to post my Holiday Home Tour pics fopr our first annual Holiday Tour!!!

August Rudolph Day

2008-08-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wow...it's August Rudolph Day already...can't believe it! The focus of my August Rudolph Day is

TWENTY FOUR DAY GIFTS

The initial idea was to have them all done by now but alas...as usual best laid plans go astray. So I will regroup and see exactly what I still need. I also need to get these recorded in an orderly manner in my notebook. So if I can do that and pick up at least a few to add to the stash I will be HAPPY!!!

So list making and organizing is the order of the day. I will then make an effort from Rudolph Day until August 31st to pick up as many as possible and hope to finish them all by September Rudolph Day!!

What's your focus for Rudolph Day this month????

Our Blog Ring

2008-08-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

I am just as excited as can be to see the list of Rudolph Day blogs growing...each one is different and unique and sooooo creative. Love to spend time looking at them. So many wonderful ideas!

Day 31 Christmas in July

2008-07-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

My I have enjoyed Christmas in July...didn't get everything done but a lot!!! So I will continue to work on Christmas at least several times during the month of August.

Today for me is GREAT PUMPKIN DAY ...I know many of you do this one the 13th but for some reason I never could make the switch...So I will be Boo Bash planning today. I am getting excited. I will design some post card like invitations to give out...then I have plans to make some witch's kitchen jars....picked up some skeleton hands and little skulls at Deals yesterday...they are putting out their fall stuff!!!

Day 30 Christmas in July

2008-07-31T06:37:00.001-07:00

Well I am just now adding Day 30....going back to work has sure cut into my fun!!! LOL

NO...I have not lost my mind....I realize that the house above is a Leprechaun House....but someone had mentioned the other day...making one for the elves...or at least making an Elf House for decor....and I thought it was a great idea...so I thought I'd show you the little leprechaun house I created but you could easily make it Christmas or Elfish!!

Day 29 Christmas in July

2008-07-29T19:09:00.001-07:00

Here's one of the reasons I plan for Christmas....I love to keep the Magic alive in this crazy hectic world today!!!

Day 28 Christmas in July

2008-07-29T03:33:00.000-07:00

Day 28.....and time is getting away from me. Here are some links to the Magic Elves stuff from the chat.

Elf Crafts

Elf Hugs: Printable cards to use with Hershey's hugs

Elf Kisses: Printable cards to use with Hershey's kisses

Form: Magic Elves Idea List

Hope you enjoy them!!!

Day 27 Christmas in July

2008-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Today I got a big start on getting my daily routines in place before the big holiday push...I made a lot of progress...now for tomorrow's schedule...lol...gotta keep it up!!

Not much CIJ stuff other than looking through the notebook and doing two Organizing for Christmas Chats but I still feel good about my progress. Hope you all do also. Remember...a little here and a little there ....what a big difference!!

I''ll try to have a few interesting things for you tomorrow...oh perhaps a nice recipe!!!

Day 26 Christmas in July

2008-07-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

Day 26....Today I am going to post some links you might find interesting:

Here's a page with some commonly asked questions about elves...sort of cute: HERE

And then we have a different spin on Magic Elves with The Elf Hat tradition.

And then a cute Santa's Workshop site.

And also Claus.com

Hope you enjoy the sites and have fun on Day 26!!!!

Day 25 Christmas in July

2008-07-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today we had two Magic Elves idea chats...lots of creativity flowing. I am more excited than every about putting together a Magic Elf kit for Evan. We will still have our trio visit our house but this year an Elf will arrive at his house also.

The Elve will arrive in a bag....gotta pick up one of those cloth Christmas bags...the elf will also ahve a little fleece blanket I am going to make or maybe a little sleeping bag. They will also bring some other accessories...I'll post more about them later...I am still chatting...LOL.

Also worked on post it note stand today....hope to get a picture up soon!!! I'll be back later to add more here!!!

Day 24 Christmas in July

2008-07-24T12:47:00.001-07:00

DAY 24...I hear that this evening starts the QVC...Christmas in July...I want to watch a bit of that later tonight as I never have before! I was a bit disappointed in the HSN one so maybe I'll actually find a few things this go round!

When college shopping with Kelsey today and she FINALLY managed to find a comforter bed set that suited her...gosh, everything was either too bright, too faded looking or in some horrid color or pattern!!!! So this week we managed to mark two big items off her list...a cute little red microwave we bought at Target and then the bedding set!! YIPPEE

Not a lot of Christmas getting accomplished here...but hey I also picked up three stocking stuffers so that's awesome...if I keep this up I might eventually finish this project!

As soon as I get the new notebook set up...I'll take some pictures...also want to get pics up of the Post-it note holders and the drink carrier...when I get one finished!!

Really tired...may need to go take a nap....more later!

Day 23 Christmas in July

2008-07-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

My main goal today was to examine several Holiday Cleaning/Prep Plans and try to come to a decision about what to use this year. As always...I like things about both!

Here's the Holiday Grand Plan

Here's the Houseworks Holiday Plan

And here's my beloved Christmas Countdown...don't know how to survive without this one!!

So I looked at the sites, read some...and about the only thing I really decided was to create a notebook especially for the plan....I have a Christmas Countdown Notebook that houses those six weeks but it also has tons of other stuff too like Christmas Card List etc...that is my lifesaver notebook...it will remain as is....and then I will create a new one for the cleaning plan/prep one!

Day 22 Christmas in July

2008-07-22T05:12:00.001-07:00

Today is Day 22...and it's Tuesday...which means it's TO DO LIST TUESDAY...what a perfect time to start some lists for the Magic Elves. You can make a list of some escapades the elves can do when they visit or a list of gifts or elf activities. Here are some we have used in the past:

They decoarate a miniature tree during the night
They make green popcorn (or red)
They escape and end up on the front porch
They climb ino the branches of our big tree
They make cookies and leave a mess
They hide in the freezer where it reminds them of the North Pole
They read books during the night and leave a picture of themselves doing it
They make us breakfast
They leave instructions and materials for an art project
They turn on Christmas music...really really loud in the morning

Well those are just a few ideas...but you get the idea...so make some lists today!!!